Who Owns Converse and What Does It Stand For?

Scroll down to see celebrities wearing shoes and high tops by Converse, an American shoe company founded in 1908 that produces skating shoes and lifestyle brand footwear and apparel.

Sage Elsesser Converse One Star Pro Launch Party in New York City on February 10, 2017 (Credit: Derrick Salters / WENN)

A wholly-owned subsidiary of Nike, the company manufactures its products under the Cons, Chuck Taylor All-Star, John Varvatos, and Jack Purcell trade names.

Where can I get Converse for cheap?

You can buy discounted Converse shoes on sale at Nordstrom Rack, Amazon, and Converse.

Who owns Converse?

Acquired by Nike in 2003 for $305 million, Converse is now a subsidiary of the American multinational corporation.

Nike owns Converse after acquiring the company in 2003 for $305 million

When Nike bought Converse, the latter had annual sales of just over $200 million. Since then, sales have ballooned almost 10 times to approximately $1.7 billion in revenue.

What does Converse stand for?

The company is named after its founder, Marquis Mills Converse, who created Converse Rubber Shoe Company in February 1908 in Malden, Massachusetts, as a rubber shoe company specializing in galoshes.

Also known as dickersons, gumshoes, rubbers, or overshoes, it is a type of rubber boot that is slipped over shoes to keep them from getting muddy or wet.

Why did Marquis Mills Converse make Converse?

He came up with the idea of a rubber sole when he was wearing slippery shoes that caused him to fall down the stairs.

Why are Converse shoes called Chucks?

In 1923, a basketball player named Charles H. “Chuck” Taylor walked into Converse’s office in Chicago complaining of sore feet.

He was hired to improve an earlier version of Converse All Stars that was released in 1922 as one of the first shoes specifically designed to be worn when playing basketball.

In recognition of his hard work, Taylor’s signature was added to the All-Star patch on the classic, high-topped sneakers in 1932. Since then, they have become known as Chuck Taylor All Stars.

Charles Hollis “Chuck” Taylor worked as a salesman and ambassador for the brand until his death of a heart attack in Port Charlotte, Florida, on June 23, 1969.

The design of the Chuck Taylor All Star has remained largely unchanged since its introduction in the 1920s.

Converse Q&A

How celebrities wear Converse